ThinkingAfield.org

As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Geological Survey, in conjunction with Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, is working to inform the public that pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin within the Madison Range on private lands only, south of Highway 84, west of Highway 191, and north of Highway 287, in Montana. Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will begin the field captures July 20 and continue through August 28. Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have major access points marked with warning signs. It is critical that all members of the public heed these signs.

Research and monitoring of the grizzly bear population is vital to ongoing recovery and management of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In order to attract bears, biologists use natural food sources such as recently road-killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares are used to capture bears. Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST and approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Whenever bear capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with bright warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. Read more

Safari Club International (SCI) commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for announcing a new rule that gives Western states greater authority to manage expanding grizzly bear populations while maintaining the species’ long-term conservation success. While the rule does not yet allow for regulated hunting to fully manage expanding bear populations, it represents an important first step for proper administration of the Endangered Species Act.

The new rule relies on Section 4(d) of the ESA, which authorizes the Service to adopt regulations that are “necessary and advisable” for the conservation of threatened-listed species, including grizzly bears. Historically, the Service has used this authority primarily to restrict the take of listed species. Under the new rule, however, the Service is using its Section 4(d) authority to provide states with additional management tools and flexibility to address the challenges associated with long-recovered and expanding grizzly bear populations.

Grizzly bears represent one of the greatest wildlife recovery success stories in North America. Read more

14 projects funded at nearly $200,000

Conservation groups, K-12 students and landowners across the Upper Peninsula will improve hundreds of acres of white-tailed deer habitat this year after receiving state grants generated from deer hunting license revenue. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is funding 14 projects totaling nearly $200,000 in grants in 2026. That’s double the per-year amount of funding from past years through the Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative. Now in its 18th year, the U.P. initiative has awarded nearly $1.5 million across 176 grants, with partners contributing more than $1 million in matching funds or in-kind contributions. “The initiative has created a collaborative approach to improving deer habitat on private lands across the Upper Peninsula,” said Bill Scullon, grant program coordinator and field operations manager for the DNR. “As we know, deer know no boundaries. Creating suitable habitat across both public and private lands is crucial to helping deer survive the often-challenging U.P. winters.” Funding for the initiative comes from the Deer Range Improvement Program, or DRIP, a state appropriation created in 1971. Through DRIP, $1.50 from every deer hunting license goes toward improving deer habitat. Read more

Article and Photos by Paul Konrad

Recently fledged American Robins have dominated the feeding station during recent weeks, along with the adults that lead them to the grape jelly feeders (photos by Paul Konrad).

One of the most exciting things that can happen at a feeding station is for birds that visit your feeders during the nesting period to bring their fledglings to your feeders and surrounding tree branches. In addition to the chance to view the young birds at close quarters during this important developmental stage when they learn to fly and learn how to survive beyond the nest, it’s great to watch the interactions between fledglings and adults, and other birds. Most songbird fledglings rely on the adults to feed them and protect them, while the young birds watch and interact with adults and other birds at a feeding station, and beyond.

Best of all we can watch the fledglings quickly develop beyond the nest – not an easy thing to do beyond the “confines” of a feeding station with a window view. This is an especially bountiful year in the Northern Plains, and that may be the reason behind so many fledglings being produced in my neighborhood, and why my grape jelly feeders have been attracting a variety of fledglings. Family groups of American Robins and House Finches have now been joined by a Baltimore Oriole female feeding one or more of her recent fledglings that occasionally follow her to perch in branches in the ash tree adjacent to the feeding station. The male Baltimore was as active as the female in collecting jelly and insects attracted to the sweet food, but he suddenly disappeared after July 1^st, leaving the female to care for the fledgling (or fledglings) during the final step of the post-fledging period.

Recently, a male Orchard Oriole has substantially increased the number of its visits to collect jelly and bugs, which indicates it is feeding nestlings nearby – and hopefully they will follow him to the jelly feeders when they leave the nest too. [As I write this, the male Orchard arrives on que to load up on jelly.] A few Orchard Oriole broods have spent time utilizing my feeders in the past – usually numbering 2 or 3 per brood that resemble the adult female with new yellow plumage. This season, only the male has been a regular visitor – so far. Some years I have 2 or 3 pairs of orioles nesting in the area, but this year it has been just 1 pair of each species.

Realistically, it has been the American Robins and House Finches that have provided the biggest thrills and levels of activity this summer. Read more